Salix orestera
Encyclopedia
Salix orestera is a species of willow
known by the common name Sierra willow, or gray-leafed Sierra willow. It is native to the Sierra Nevada of California
and western Nevada, where it grows in moist areas in high mountain subalpine
and alpine climate
s. It can also be found in Oregon
.
reaching one half to two meters tall, bushy with slender branches. The lance-shaped leaves are up to 9.5 centimeters long and often have coatings of silky hairs. The inflorescence
is a stout catkin
of flowers.
Willow
Willows, sallows, and osiers form the genus Salix, around 400 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...
known by the common name Sierra willow, or gray-leafed Sierra willow. It is native to the Sierra Nevada of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and western Nevada, where it grows in moist areas in high mountain subalpine
Subalpine
The subalpine zone is the biotic zone immediately below tree line around the world. Species that occur in this zone depend on the location of the zone on the Earth, for example, Snow Gum in Australia, or Subalpine Larch, Mountain Hemlock and Subalpine Fir in western North America.Trees in the...
and alpine climate
Alpine climate
Alpine climate is the average weather for a region above the tree line. This climate is also referred to as mountain climate or highland climate....
s. It can also be found in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
.
Description
Salix orestera is very similar to Salix glauca and is sometimes included within that species. It is a shrubShrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
reaching one half to two meters tall, bushy with slender branches. The lance-shaped leaves are up to 9.5 centimeters long and often have coatings of silky hairs. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is a stout catkin
Catkin
A catkin or ament is a slim, cylindrical flower cluster, with inconspicuous or no petals, usually wind-pollinated but sometimes insect pollinated . They contain many, usually unisexual flowers, arranged closely along a central stem which is often drooping...
of flowers.